Toward Effective Evaluation of Environmental Education: Validity of the Children's Environmental Attitudes and Knowledge Scale Using Data From a Sample of Irish Adolescents

Abstract

Evaluation of environmental education (EE) interventions is at an early stage of development. Within a quantitative paradigm, the authors examined the psychometric properties of the Children's Environmental Attitudes and Knowledge Scale (CHEAKS) with data from a sample of Irish adolescents (N = 338) participating in a repeated measures design. Results lend support to published findings that recommend the instrument as reliable and valid. Comparative analysis between these data and published figures from the United States indicates differences in the constituent elements tapped by the scale. These differences are explored and recommendations for further study are made.

Keywords:

• Children's Environmental Attitudes and Knowledge Scale (CHEAKS)
• cultural comparison
• ecological views
• environmental education (EE)